Founding of the Punjab Public Library, Lahore

This paper, using primary sources of historical evidence, traces the founding of the Punjab Public Library, Lahore. It briefly reviews the beginnings of subscription libraries, book clubs, station libraries and libraries for Western-Oriented Gentry (WOGs). The antecedents of the Punjab Public Library are dealt with. These led to the government initiative to create this library which had some unique features different from its contemporaries. It deals with its special features which were distinct from other contemporary libraries. Eight archival documents are reproduced in the paper. A fuller history of this library still needs to be written.